Decomposition of Solutions in Front of the Interface Induced by Directional Crystallization

Abstract

Here we show the results of experimental observation of decomposition of the solution components into the neighbor ing cells. The liquid solution under crystallization first gets into the unstable state and then decomposes. The decompo sition result is fixed in the solid phase as inhomogeneous component distribution. Our experimental results enable to argue that the eutectic pattern forms due to interface instability and spinodal decomposition of non-equilibrium solution forming in front of the interfac e.